Another course closing in San Diego

[JackpotJohnny]

Never was huge fan of the quirky layout, but bummed to see it go. That’s like 3 in the last 6 months

 

 

https://www.google.com/amp/www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-carmel-mountain-ranch-country-club-closing-20180619-story,amp.html

[MikekiM]

Bummed to hear. I remember talking with a pro there last year and he was saying they had more rounds played than ever before despite all the water savings modifications that had been undertaken.

[hlca]

That's sad to hear. I only played once a few weeks ago, but enjoyed the course.

[lookylookitzadam]

This course is down the street from me and I just found out about their really nice practice green and chipping area. Sad to hear that it will be closing next month. As for the course...it was nothing special and overpriced to play if you paid rack rates. Nonetheless, its never a good thing when a course closes.

[JackpotJohnny]

They had a really unique opportunity to be the only affordable public course on the 15 corridor between the 8 & Escondido when the doubletree was shut down a couple years ago. But they sealed their fate by getting into bed with JC golf, who immediately jacks up the rates to offset their fees as soon as they take over managing a course.

 

Being a course that isn’t anything special, and primarialy gets play out of convenience and value, there is no way that relationship going to be sustainable.

Rate goes up for no added value besides the JC name, People get turned off off by the hike and stop coming. Traffic decreases so they then they drop the rate back down but are charging the owners the same fees...and cutting into profit.

They do decent business with weddings and banquets, and the locals that come to the bar, but they are severely handicapped by the lack of a driving range and the $ that comes along with it.

Looks like they aren’t shutting the facilities down yet, probably because it’s wedding season and have commitments to uphold, or they are going to try and run it off of that money while trying to get it re-zoned

And then cash in with a developer.

[lookylookitzadam]

They had a really unique opportunity to be the only affordable public course on the 15 corridor between the 8 & Escondido when the doubletree was shut down a couple years ago. But they sealed their fate by getting into bed with JC golf, who immediately jacks up the rates to offset their fees as soon as they take over managing a course.

 

Being a course that isn't anything special, and primarialy gets play out of convenience and value, there is no way that relationship going to be sustainable.

Rate goes up for no added value besides the JC name, People get turned off off by the hike and stop coming. Traffic decreases so they then they drop the rate back down but are charging the owners the same fees...and cutting into profit.

They do decent business with weddings and banquets, and the locals that come to the bar, but they are severely handicapped by the lack of a driving range and the $ that comes along with it.

Looks like they aren't shutting the facilities down yet, probably because it's wedding season and have commitments to uphold, or they are going to try and run it off of that money while trying to get it re-zoned

And then cash in with a developer.

 

This is why I am worried about Crossings. I have been playing there a long time and JC recently took over and now everyone that I know who is somehow attached to crossings is very worried about things to come.

[JackpotJohnny]

The crossings is owned by the city of Carlsbad. It’s has not turned a profit since the day it opened, nothing to worry about there.

[JackpotJohnny]

Now officially closed, Sunday was the last day for public play. Got to get out with some friends late afternoon and shut the course down. And shot probably my best round there. Nice way to go out

[MuniPukeLife]

I remember when they decided to close Salt Creek in the Southbay out of nowhere, and the next day watching about 5 high school matches go off so all of the Southbay could finish league play.

 

Sucks to hear about CMR . . .

 

#ImissDoubleTree

[Hack Daddy]

JC is, by far, the worst golf management company in existence.

 

How encinitas ranch is still open, is beyond me.

 

It is an utter shame CMR shut down. The layout was refreshing.

[MikekiM]

Just heard a rumor that another JC golf course is on the chopping block, Reidy Creek in Escondido may be closing soon.

[JackpotJohnny]

Just heard a rumor that another JC golf course is on the chopping block, Reidy Creek in Escondido may be closing soon.

They have been talking about shutting it down for years. Similar to crossings, it’s owned by the city of Escondido and has never turned a profit.

It’s a cool course for what it is, and you can walk in the summer after 4 for like $7 bucks, But trying to get $40+ bucks to play a par 3 is unreasonable and drives traffic away.

Common denominator here is that it’s run by JC golf. They kill courses with their rediculous rate structure,trying to force people into buying their membership card just to get a decent rate.

[lookylookitzadam]

Just heard a rumor that another JC golf course is on the chopping block, Reidy Creek in Escondido may be closing soon.

 

Played there once and that was enough for me. JC is just a management company for golf courses right?

[Clambake]

Yes, JC is a management company, and I agree they're pretty bad. Their model seems to work around increasing rates for normal patrons and selling their JC card instead.

 

Regarding Encinitas Ranch, I think they're doing well financially. They seem to be pretty full most of the time, and they're priced quite high for the quality of the course, so I expect they are fiscally solid. I think it's the most overpriced course in the county for what you get, unless you're a resident of Encinitas.

 

For those keeping track, following are courses recently closed in San Diego county:

 

Carmel Highland

Carmel Mountain Ranch

Escondido Country Club

Fallbrook Golf Club

Salt Creek Golf Club

San Luis Rey Downs

Stoneridge Country Club

Sun Valley Golf Course

 

Riverwalk will be closing soon, and I expect a few more will be shutting down before too long. I can't imagine Castle Creek is sustainable much longer, and I'm surprised Boulder Oaks, formerly known as Meadow Lake, is still going (must be one of the worst courses on the west coast). And one that's really iffy is Warner Springs. It seemed a really dumb move for the investor group to resurrect that place, and I can't imagine they're doing enough business to pay for mower gas, let alone water and labor.

 

But on the plus side, we have Rams Hill back, and that place is so wonderful that it makes up for losing the others.

[MuniPukeLife]

Friars will be the first to go at Riverwalk, allegedly in 2020.

 

Condos . . . .

[Schley]

The site of 2 of my best 3 rounds in my life is Encinitas Ranch! Thus i have an affinity for that place. 75 and 77.

[kejoal11]

Salt Creek was sad to see it go. Fun layout and great potential. Just not managed very good. The choices in San Diego are dwindling and the ones that are left just keep jacking up the prices!!

[augustgolf]

Salt Creek was sad to see it go. Fun layout and great potential. Just not managed very good. The choices in San Diego are dwindling and the ones that are left just keep jacking up the prices!!

 

What you are experiencing and seeing in San Diego is going to spread across the country.

 

As more courses have closed due to whatever reason (correction in the market) you will see less options and higher prices.

 

Supply & demand. Golf is going to go back to what it was in the '60 - not many choices, and geared more to higher prices.

 

BTW - course conditions weren't all that great at most courses back then, but....as always, the ultra-rich had the best conditions, and the sliding scale dictated courses from that point.

 

The good thing is that now-we have Top Golf (which traditionalists & purists hate). At least there, you can play music loud, get drunk and obnoxious, and not bother "real" golfers on a "real" golf course.

[kejoal11]

Salt Creek was sad to see it go. Fun layout and great potential. Just not managed very good. The choices in San Diego are dwindling and the ones that are left just keep jacking up the prices!!

 

What you are experiencing and seeing in San Diego is going to spread across the country.

 

As more courses have closed due to whatever reason (correction in the market) you will see less options and higher prices.

 

Supply & demand. Golf is going to go back to what it was in the '60 - not many choices, and geared more to higher prices.

 

BTW - course conditions weren't all that great at most courses back then, but....as always, the ultra-rich had the best conditions, and the sliding scale dictated courses from that point.

 

The good thing is that now-we have Top Golf (which traditionalists & purists hate). At least there, you can play music loud, get drunk and obnoxious, and not bother "real" golfers on a "real" golf course.

 

I hear what you're saying and agree. I guess as long as the military bases keep their courses open I wont have an issue .

[Hack Daddy]

Yes, JC is a management company, and I agree they're pretty bad. Their model seems to work around increasing rates for normal patrons and selling their JC card instead.

 

Regarding Encinitas Ranch, I think they're doing well financially. They seem to be pretty full most of the time, and they're priced quite high for the quality of the course, so I expect they are fiscally solid. I think it's the most overpriced course in the county for what you get, unless you're a resident of Encinitas.

 

For those keeping track, following are courses recently closed in San Diego county:

 

Carmel Highland

Carmel Mountain Ranch

Escondido Country Club

Fallbrook Golf Club

Salt Creek Golf Club

San Luis Rey Downs

Stoneridge Country Club

Sun Valley Golf Course

 

Riverwalk will be closing soon, and I expect a few more will be shutting down before too long. I can't imagine Castle Creek is sustainable much longer, and I'm surprised Boulder Oaks, formerly known as Meadow Lake, is still going (must be one of the worst courses on the west coast). And one that's really iffy is Warner Springs. It seemed a really dumb move for the investor group to resurrect that place, and I can't imagine they're doing enough business to pay for mower gas, let alone water and labor.

 

But on the plus side, we have Rams Hill back, and that place is so wonderful that it makes up for losing the others.

Salt Creek was sad to see it go. Fun layout and great potential. Just not managed very good. The choices in San Diego are dwindling and the ones that are left just keep jacking up the prices!!

 

What did Salt Creek in was the criminal water prices the Otay water district was charging. Same for Carmel Mountain - water prices.

 

As it pertains to the purchase of Warner Springs. The golf course was never meant to be the profitable side of the acquisition, it was the resort (or whatever you want to call it). I played in the Billy Casper tourneys, and one of them was with the guy who did all the materials importing for Fred (co-owner of SC and WSR). They were putting in some decent items to renovate the cottages.